What does balance in the world mean to you?

For me, balance in the world means that people meet each other with kindness. Since I was young, I have found it hard to understand why people think others should be like themselves, and that, for example, one can believe their own religion is better than others', that their skin color is more correct, or their political views, or their sexuality, their career - their life choices. For me, balance is that we are 7.8 billion people who are all completely different, and that it's absolutely perfect that way.

What does balance in life mean to you?

In many ways, it means everything! To have a good balance in the 24 hours we have each day. Balance between children, love, work, social time, leisure, and me-time. In some periods, it's easier than others - the often-discussed work/life balance.

I believe balance is especially about keeping the mind happy, then life naturally feels in balance. Some of the most important elements for me to be happy are feeling alive: laughing, loving, hugging, and experiencing, not just rushing towards the next "to-do".

On the physical level, I believe the biggest key to balance lies in our breathing and thereby being "present" within ourselves. To look at oneself in the mirror in the morning and say HI - how are you today? To stop and listen. When life is challenging, our breathing is the most essential for us to be present within ourselves. To have "space".

Beyond that, it's crucial for me to get enough sleep, to eat good food that nourishes my body, to drink enough fluids, and to exercise, so I release joy-inducing endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, and so my computer-working body doesn't complain.

If I'm happy, it doesn't matter so much if most hours are spent on one thing or another. When I'm happy and my loved ones are doing well, that probably feels most like balance. Therefore, I also think we have a significant responsibility to ensure that we treat our body and mind well, what I always consider as respect for the body.